Signaling mechanism for automobiles.



E. J. MEYER, DEOD. E1 MEYER, 1a,: 11 w. E. MEYER. EXEGUTORS. SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1911.

1,1 1 1,079 Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Q/witwaoaas B. J. MEYER, DEGD. E. MEYER, JR., & W. B. MEYER, EXBGUTORS. SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1911. 4 1 1 1 LQYQ Patented Sept 22, 191

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. J. MEYER, DECD. L. MEYER, m, & W. B. MEYER, EXEOUTORS SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1911.

Patented Sept 22, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

V SHUCHI'OZ (eye/ E. J. MEYER, DEGD. E. MEYER, JR., 1 w. E. MEYER, EXEGUTORS. SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10, 1911.

1,1 1 1,0790 Patented Sept 22, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

BLJ. MEYER, DBOD. B. MEYER. Jm, & W. E. MEYER, EXEOUTORSe SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1911. 1,1 1 JL 079:, Patented Sept. 22, 19m.

5 SHEE1'SSHEET 5 TINT STATlEd PATENT @FFTQE.

EDGAR a, MEYER, or NEW YonK, N. Y .;EUGE1\TE MEYER, an, Ann WALTER E. MEyEE,

on NEW YORK, n. r, EXEcUroEs or SAID EDGAR J. MEYER, DECEASED.

SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

ELJLILLWFQ.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914. Serial No. 601,851.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR J. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county .of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Mechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification,

The object of my invention is to provide improved'means for displaying signals on vehicles such as automobiles, preferably at the rear portion, to indicate the operators intended movement, such as turning to the right or left, slowing, stopping, reversing, and the like, and to cause some of the signals to be automatically set and restored upon the operation of certain of the controlling mechanism, and also to enable the operator to display certain of the signals conveniently at will without interference by certain of the controlling devices of the automobile.

In carrying out my invention I provide sui able signals, which may be generally in the form of plates, normally concealed within a casing or box located at the rear portion of the automobile, with connections from certain of such signals to the brake mechanism or levers and reversing lever, and means connecting certain other signals with one or more of the controlling pedals for displaying such signals at will.

My invention also comprises novel details of improvement and combinations .of arts that will be more fully hereinafter set orth and then pointed out in the claims.

Referenc is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an automobile chassis showing the relation of my improvements to the control mechanism of the automobile, Fig. 2 is a plan view of my im- 1 provements, the cover and other parts being removed; 3 is an elevation, partly int section on the line 8, 8, in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is l a vertical section on the line 4, 4, in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail section substantially on the line 5, 5, in Fig. 3; Fig. .6 is a perspecj tive view diagrammatically illustrating the connections between my improvements and controlling devices of the automobile; Fig. 'l' is a side elevation illustrating my improvements in connection with the brake pedal; Fig. 8 is a view at right angles to Fig. 7 i

Fig. 89 is a p an View of Fig. 8 par ly in section. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the clutch-mechanism pedal, illustrating the application of my improvements thereto; Fig. ll is a view at right angles to Fig. 10, and F 1g. 12 is a plan view of Fig. 10.

Upon any suitable part of an automobile or other vehicle A, as at the rear thereof, my improvements are supported in any suitable manner. I provide any desired number of signal devices, preferably normally maintained inclosed within a suitable box or casing B supported upon the vehicle in any suitable manner. In the arrangement shown the license pad or plate C is attached to casing B at the upper portion of the latter, the

front or exposed side of the casing being preferably open or unobstructed below the license pad (see Figs. 3 and 6). The license pad may be detachably held upon the casing, as by screw and nut D, thus permitting access to the upper interior of the casing when required. The signal plates within casing 13 are indicated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and at 5 is a partition dividing .casing into compartments 02 and y, the signal plates being located within compartment :0. The signal plates carry on their forward faces any suitable designations, such as Left Right Stop Slow etc, according to their number. Said plates are adapted to be raised and lowered within the casing, so that when raised they will be concealed behind each other and behind the license plate, and when lowered the signal on such plate will be observed without obstruction by the license pad 'or plate. I have shown the signal plates as adapted to be raised or lowered bodily, for which purpose I provide rockin arms 6, 6 6 6, one for each plate, said arms being located behind and hidden by its corresponding signal plate (see Fig. 2.) At their free ends the arms 6, etc., are shown provided with slots 6 receiving pins 7 carried by the"corresp.0nding plate, and means are provided for supporting and rocking said arms, as required, individually. Zln the arrangement shown the arm 6 is secured to rock shaft 8 journaled at one side of, and within casing B, and arm 6" is secured upon a rock shaft 9 journaled at the other side of the casing. Arm 6 is secured upon a sleeve 8 journaled upon shaft 8,

and arm 6 is secured upon a sleeve 9 journalecl upon shaft 9, the arms all being movably connected with the corresponding Sig lld fnal plates, as byithe slot and pin connections 6, 7. To shaft 8 is secured a crank arm 10 and to sleeve 8 is secured a crank arm 10 and likewise to shaft 9 is secured a crank arm 11, and to sleeve 9 is secured a crank arm 11 for rocking the arms 6, 6, 6?, 6, as required. The cranks 10, 10 11, 11*, are respectively connected with wires or flexible connections 12, 13, 14 and 15 that pass over suitable pulleys 16 secured on or in the casing for guiding such flexible connections. Springs 17 shown connected with the rock arms 10, 10, 11, 11 and with casing B serve normally to maintain the arms and the signal plates elevated. By pulling upon either of the flexible connections 12, 13, 14 or 15 the corresponding arm will be operated to lower or depress the corresponding signal plate, and when such connection is released the signal plate and its rock arm will be restored by the spring behind the license pad. As I have shown the signal plates supported substantially centrally upon the corresponding arms 6, 6 6*, 6, and in order to maintain the signal plates in proper positions and to permit them to rise and descend freely, I have shown rollers 18 journaled within the casing adjacent to the ends of the signal plates, the rollers 18 being shown mounted uponrods 19 suitably secured in the casing. The ends, of the signal plates also ride freely in guideways 20 secured within the casing at the opposite sides to prevent lateral swinging of the signal lates.

The flexlble connections from the signal plates, may be connected with any desired controlling devices of the vehicle. The arrangement I have shown is as follows: The connection or wire 12 from signal plate 1 extends to the brake mechanism, so that when such signal plate is lowered the signal Stop, Slow, or the like will be displayed. I have shown the connection 12 extending to the foot brake pedal E and a conthe signal plate 1 to descend, and when said lever is raised or restoredto its normal position the corresponding spring 17 will restore said signal plate to its normal position behind the license plate or pad. Since it may be desirable to display Stop or Slow signal plate 1 as a warning, even though the brakes may not be applied by the foot .pedal E, and at other times to'display such signal when the pedal E is fully operated, I have shown means connected with pedal E whereby the signal plate 1 may be'operated at will with or without setting the brakes therewith. To this end I haveshown the flexible connection or wire 12 passing over a suitable guide or sheave 21 mounted upon shaft 22 of brake lever E, said wire guided along said pedal by the tubular guide 23 shown fitted to said pedal by clips 24, the free end of connection 12 being shown attached to a lever or rock arm 25, ournaled upon bolt 26 that supports the foot pedal pad E on pedal A sliding pin 28 is mounted in a guide 29 secured on pad E and bearing againstlever 25. Pin 28 normally projects forwardly of the plane of pad E to enable it to. be pushed by the foot, when desired, to

cause lever 25 to rock and pull on connection 12 irrespective of whether pedal E be pushed or not. Thus, if it is desired to apply the brakes by means of pedal E, pin 28 will be pushed by the foot just before the pedal E is operated so that the corresponding signal plate will be lowered, before or position that the foot will naturally engage V the same in order that pedal E may be forcibly operated. As a further safeguard to the display of si 'nal 1 when the brakes are oper ated, the brfke rods F may be connected by branch connections 12", 12 with the connection 12, as illustrated in Fig. 6, whereby if one of such connections should become broken the signal may still be dis layed.

The connection 15, assumed to e connected'with the rock arms of signal plate 4 to indicate Reverse is shown connected with reverse lever G of the transmission mechanism, so that when the operator sets the reverse lever the corresponding signal plate will be displayed, which will be of advantage even though the operator does not reverse the direction of movement of the car.

In order that the operator may indicate his intention to turn to the right or left the signal plates 2, 3, are connected by their respective wires 13 or 14 with devices connected with the clutch operating pedal H, and the wires 13, 14 are shown guided around sheaves or guides 30 mounted upon shaft 31 and extended throu h guides 32, 33, shown connected with pedaIH by clips 34. The free endsof wires 13, 14 are connected,

respectively, with movable members 35, 36

actuating members 35, 36 will be substantially in the positions shown in Fig. 12, viz: in position to be operated by the foot upon pedal pad H; If it be desired to turn to the right, the foot, which usually rests upon the clutch edal pad, will be moved to the right, thereby drawin upon flexible connection 13 and pulling own signal plate 2 to display its signal Right; If it be intended to turn to the left the foot will be moved to the left to cause member 36 to pull upon its connection or wire 14 to thereupon cause the descent of signal pad 3 to display the signal Left. With the foot resting between the members 35, 36 upon pad H neither signal 2 nor 3 will be displayed, and the operation of pedal H will have no effect upon the signal plates 2, 3, since the flexible connections 13, let, pass around the axis of pedal H; a

I Since the brake and other parts of the automobilei involved in theoperation of my improvements might wear and thereby create undue tension upon the flexible connections or wires, whereby one or more of them might become broken by undue tension, I have shown springs 40 interposed in the line of such flexible connections which may be in any suitable manner, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, such springs being of suflicient normal tension as not to unduly expand when the parts are .in their normal conditions, but to expand sufiiciently to prevent breaking of the flexible connections if undue strain comes thereon.

Although I have shown the license pad as fitted upon casing B, it will be understood that the license pad and the casing may be mounted separately upon the vehicle, with a plate or wall upon the casing in front of the signal plates when they are in their normal positions, providing a space below for display of the signal plates, but by having the license pad upon the casing the latter affords a support for the pad, and the latter performs the function of concealing the signal plates while in their normal positions, thereby overcoming the necessity of an extra side or wall portion on casing B to conceal the signal plates, reducing weight and cheapening the device to that extent.

While I have illustrated a practical embodiment of my invention it will be understood that changes may be made in the arrangements set forth, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim is:

1. The combination of a signal plate, guides for the plate, an arm to operate the plate, a pedal of avehicle, a flexible connection connected with and extending from said pedal to said arm for operating said signal plate, and means on said pedal guiding said connection along the pedal to move coincidently therewith.

2. The combination of a vehicle, a signal movably supported thereby, devices for operating the signal to display and conceal the signal, the vehicle having a pedal separate from the signal, and devices carried by said pedal and controlling said first named devices for operating said signal-independently of the operation of the pedal.

3. The combination of a signal, devices for operating the same to display and conceal the signal, a brake pedal of a vehicle, devices carried by said pedal and controlling said firstnamed devices for operating said signal independently of the operation of the pedal, brake mechanism controlled by said pedal, and means connecting the brake mechanism with said signal for operating the latter by said brake mechanism.

4. The combination of a vehicle, a signal movably supported thereby, devices for operating the signal to display and conceal the signal, the vehicle having a pedal separate from the signal, a member carried by said pedal and movable independently thereof, and means actuated by said member and controlling said signal-actuating devices'for operating said signal independently of the operation of said pedal.

5. The combination of a vehicle, a signal plate movably supported thereby, devices for operating the same to display and conceal the plate, the vehicle having a edal, a mov able member carried by the e al, and a connection' between the movable member and the devices of the signal plate for operating the latter, said connection permitting the pedal to be operated without operating the signal.

6. The combination of a signal, devices for. operating the same to display and conceal the signal, a pedal of a vehicle, a member carried by said pedal and movable independently thereof, and a flexible connec tion guided by and along the pedal and con nected for operation with said member for operating said signal independently of the movement of said pedal.

7. The combination of a signal, devices for operating the same to display and. conceal the signal, a brake pedal of a vehicle, a member carried by said pedal and movable independently thereof, and projecting in the path of the foot when operating the pedal, an arm movably carried by said pedal to be operated by said member and a flexible connection connecting said arm with the signaloperating devices for operating the latter independently of the movement of the pedal.

8. The combination of a vehicle, a signal, devices for operating the same to display and conceal the signal, the vehicle having a brake pedal separate from the signal, said pedal having a movable member normally projected forwardly of the pedal in position to be operated upon coincidentally with the operation of the pedal, and means carried by the pedal for operation by said member and connected with the signal-operatin devices for operating the latter independent y of the movement 0 the pedal.

9. The combination of a vehicle, a signal plate carried at the rear thereof, devices for operating the plate to display and conceal the plate, the vehicle having a brake pedal, a movable member normally projected forwardly of the pedal and carried by the pedal in position to be operated by the foot upon pressing on the pedal, an arm carried by the pedal for operation by said member and connected with the plate-operating devices for operating the latter independently of the movement of the pedal.

10. The combination of a vehicle, a signal plate, devices for operating the same to display and conceal the plate, the vehicle having a brake pedal separate from the signal and provided with a foot pad, a member movably carried by the pedal and projecting forwardly from said pad in position to be pushed when the foot presses upon the pad, a flexible connection extending from said plate-actuating devices, and means for operating said connection by said member for displaying said plate.

11. The combination of a vehicle, a plurality of signals, devicesfor each signal to operate the same to-display and conceal it, the vehicle having a pedal separate from said signals, a plurality of independently movable members carried by said pedal, and separate connections between said members and the operating devices of said signals for permitting display of the latter separately and independently.

12. The combination of a vehicle, a plurality of signals, devices for each signal to operate the same to display and conceal it, the vehicle having a pedal separate from the signals, a plurality of members movable laterally with respect to a plane of the pedal and carried thereby, and separate flexible connections from said members guided by and along said pedal and extending to the operating devices of said signals for displaying the latter separately and independently.

13. The combination of a vehicle, a plurality of signals, devices for each signal to operate the same to display and conceal it, the vehicle having a pedal separate from the signals, members movable to the right and left on opposite sides of the pedal and carried thereby, and separate connections between said members and the operating devices of said signals respectively for independently displaying said signals.

14. The combination of a vehicle, a plurality of signals, devices for each signal to operate the same to display and conceal it, the vehicle having a pedal separate from the signals, spaced guides carried by said pedal, members movably carried in said guides, and separate connections from said members to the actuating devices of said signals for operating the latter separately and independently.

15. The combination of avehicle, a plu rality of signals, devices for each signal to operate the same to display and conceal it, the vehicle having a pedal separate from the signals and provided with a foot pad, movable members carried by said pad adjacent opposite ends thereof, and separate connections between said members and the actuating devices of said signals for displaying pedal, and a flexible connection extending w from said member and guided around said shaft, said connection being connected with the operating devices of said signal for displaying the same upon operation of said member.

17. The combination of a vehicle, a rocking pedal carried thereby, controlling mechanism operated by said pedal, a signal carried by the vehicle separate from the pedal, means to actuate said signal, and devices movably carried by the pedal and connected with the signal actuating means for operating the same irrespective of the operation of the pedal.

18. The combination of a vehicle, rocking pedals carried thereby, controlling-mechanisms connected with said pedals, a casing carried by said vehicle independent of the pedals, a plurality of signals normally concealed within said casing, means for independently operating said signals, movable members carried by said pedals, and flexible connections from said movable members connected with said signal-operating devices for displaying the latter independently of the operation of the corresponding pedal.

19. The combination of a vehicle, a rocking pedal carried thereby, a movable member carried by the pedal, a flexible connec- 1,111,07Q I a in substantially parallel planes, independent of New York, and State of New York, this controlling means for each of such plates, movable members carried by said pedals, and separate flexible connections between said members and said plate controlling means.

Signed at New York city, in the county 9th day of January, A. 1).1911.

EDGAR J. MEYER.

Witnesses:

HERMAN HERST, MARIE 1F. WAINRIGHT. 

